?At first, it had seemed to me that I should distance myself a bit from the Marian devotion of my childhood in order to focus more on Christ. Thanks to St. Louis de Montfort, I came to understand that true devotion to the Mother of God is actually Christocentric; indeed, it is very profoundly rooted in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption.? (Blessed Pope John Paul II, Crossing The Threshold of Hope)
On October 7, 2011 (the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary), I consecrated my life to Jesus through Mary. Using my radio show (to lead the nightly prayers), I was also able to get over 100 people to join me in consecrating their lives to Jesus through Mary! The results? Over the course of the past year, my Blessed Mother has taken me by the hand and brought me closer to Jesus than I ever thought possible. Total Consecration is POWERFUL!
Here are some comments from listeners who made the Consecration with me:
I cannot thank you enough for doing this. Listening to your explanations is a big help for me. I also appreciate being able to say the prayers along with you because I get so easily distracted. Not to say that it still does not happen, but it would be a lot worse if I was doing it on my own. I have lots of areas that need improvement, but I feel confident with the Blessed Mother at my side I can do it in baby steps.
Thank you for all your help. Just wanted you to know that my husband and I are still with you and plan on making this Consecration next week. It has changed MY life in so many ways.
Thank you so much for doing this…it is very helpful to do it in a group …this is a huge mental commitment and a leap of faith but I find your encouragement extremely inspiring!
You are doing so much good with this consecration. I would not even be doing this myself if I had not heard you on Ave Maria Radio (while I was working on the house!). You are blessing so many through your encouragement with this devotion and your thoughtful support of those who are encountering difficulties.
In case you’re not familiar with Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, the late theologian Fr. John Hardon defines it as “the entire gift of self to Jesus through Mary. It is, moreover, a habitual attitude of complete dependence on Mary in one’s whole life and activity.” In giving ourselves to Jesus through Mary, we perform good works without asking for “wages”, trusting that we will receive all that we need from the Master. Ultimately, our belief is that living this devotion will make us better Catholics and help us to get to Heaven!
On September 4, 2012 we will once again begin the 33 day period of preparation which will result in consecrating (or re-consecrating) ourselves to Jesus through Mary on October 7. As I did last year, I am inviting as many of you as possible to make this consecration along with me.
In order to make it easier, I will be devoting all of my Following The Truth radio programs during this period to the necessary preparation prayers. While you can certainly say them on your own, many people found it easier to listen to the program and pray along with me. The show airs on BlogTalkRadio each night at 8 PM Eastern and the podcast can be downloaded from the BTR archives or iTunes free of charge.
The Total Consecration is divided into themes:
Days 1-12: The Spirit of the World,
Days 13-19: Knowledge of Self,
Days 20-26: Knowledge of Mary,
Days 27-33: Knowledge of Jesus,
Day 34: Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.
If you?re interested in joining me, simply fill out the form below so that I?ll have an idea of how many of you will be doing this with me. I’ll also add you to my mailing list so I can provide you with additional information (including where to get FREE consecration materials). Please share this invitation with as many people as you can. There is no cost and no vows are involved. You?re simply expressing the desire to become a better person and taking advantage of Mary?s help. It?s a great deal!
I promise you that this devotion will change your life. Watch your inbox for further details and get ready?
We begin on September 4th!
You know i will be right there with you Gary. God Bless and keep doing what your doing. You touch so many lives.
Thank you, Melissa. Your constant support means a lot! God Bless You!
This time around I used Fr Michael Gaitley MCI ‘s book “33 days to Morning Glory” A Do It Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration”
He divides the preparation into 4 weeks with each week focusing on the readings from Great Marian Models. Week 1- St Louis De Montfort, week 2 -St Maximilian Kolbe, week 3 – Blessed Mother Teresa , week 4- Blessed John Paul ll. The last 5 days are a review . I found this less “daunting” and very inspiring. What especially appealed to me in following the preparation with Fr Gaitley’s book is his assurance that “little souls” not just great saints are called to this way to Jesus through Mary. I hope this might help anyone who seeks to join you and feels discouraged by the amount or prayers. Christ Peace.
I fully agree! I’ve done both. – I understand the importance of consecrating oneself to Mary, but de Montfort’s Litanies are sooo long and so little teaching in between. Fr. Michael Gaitley’s “33 Days” has much more meat and far less repetition. A much easier read with the same outcome and result.
Correction: Fr Michael E. Gaitley, MIC
Pingback: Total consecration to Jesus through Mary changed my life, and it will change yours... - Christian Forums
I’m beginning mine today leading up to the due date of my son on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept 15
I wanted so much to do the Consecration. I even bought a book with the prayers and instructions. However, when I read that after you are finished that you have to attend confession and mass on a feast day of Our Lady. I am alone with no transportation and very little money, just enough to live on. Therefore, I cannot guarantee that I would be able to fulfill the requirements after the days of prayers. Does that mean that I am unable to take advantage of such a privilege?
Hi Kathy – Although it’s recommended that you make your total consecration at Mass on one of Our Lady’s feasts, it’s not mandatory. If you are unable to do so, I recommend that you make the Total Consecration anyway. As far as Confession goes, try calling your parish and say that you want to receive Confession. If you have no way to get there, I can’t imagine your priest refusing to come to your home. In the meantime, go ahead and do the Consecration! God Bless, Gary
Hi Gary:
I began this last year when I was bedridden with my twins and sadly I was unable to finish it. I remained bedridden at home until Sept 14th and was then admitted to our hospital because at the time they thought the twins could come earlier than what they wanted…that all being said…the twins, Larry and James came on the 27th of September at 25weeks and a day..larry even Thacker jr was 1.6 and James Owen was 1.8oz..and remained in the NICU until the first two weeks of January..Larry coming home at 7.60z and James coming home at 6,9….now today Larry is 16.14oz and is scootin/crawling..a four grade brain bleed then resolved itself miraclously two months after it was discovered…he is babbling, cooing, saying dada, and loves to go go go…James is 12.9…he had three surgeries..his PDA heart valve, his circumcision, and hernia (they found four of them)..that created a growth delay in him and so his weight/height is different than larry’s..but he is still growing, etc….he is also learning how to scool/crawl..he doesn’t coo, etc because his vocal cords don’t meet in the middle but he will have ENT appt in september for reconsultation or surgery for them to be fixed..both are still on 02 and will have a sleep study appt on sept 1st to see if they can come off of it…..hoping so..if not another three months..i recall your prayers and your first email telling me that you too had twins..you really don’t know how important your prayers were for me those early days…thank you again..and I hope to be able to complete my consecration this time. Thanks, diane
Boy, do I ever remember you, Diane! I’ll continue to keep you and your family in my prayers. I’m also glad that you’ll be able to join us this year! God Bless, Gary
Plan on making my second consecration with you! God bless you Gary!
Glad to have you aboard, Mary Ann!
Pingback: Priests For Life: The Pro-Life Commitment is Eucharistic | St. John
Bless you for doing this and for holding us accountable by the daily prayers and reminders. Totus Tuus!
Glad to see you’re on board again, Peggy!
I have done the consecration prayers 3 times over the past several years. Today I began doing them again on my own. In fact I just finished the day 1 readings and prayers in the last hour.
Then I stumble upon this site – not looking for anything on the consecration in particular – and find that you are beginning the consecration today as well. If that’s not God’s voice, I don’t know what is.
I may not be able to listen to your broadcast much over the weeks to come, but I will be doing the consecration with you nonetheless. Peace.
I started the prayers yesterday and I am so glad that I can continue them with your group. What a blessings to be able to do this. The Blessed Mother has pointed me to you so I will not get discouraged. Thank you.
Glad to have you with us, Lourdes! Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
God Bless,
Gary
Totally changes your life. This year it will be 25 years since I made my consecration…
There is a great book if you have not read it, that really helps to live it day by day. It has wonderful stations and rosary meditations.
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Living-Mary-Handbook-Spirituality/dp/0910984581
Our Blessed Mother is truly working overtime in peoples hearts to draw us to her. My husband saw the name of this book on a friends Facebook page and was curious and ordered it. We received it a week before Labor day. I then heard about this preparation for Consecration on Relevant Radio a few days after we received the book. I would guess in the last week I have read at least in 10 different places how our Lady is calling us to give ourselves to her care and protection. My husband, oldest daughter and I are doing the retreat. It is amazing how God works, isn’t it??! What an honor and gift this is to us personally and to our poor broken world!
I just now saw your post and am feeling drawn to make a comment. A number of us are in the process of making this Consecration here at Holy Name Catholic Church in Ketchikan Alaska. Thank you for using your website for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Also, thank you for adding salt and light to our society via your blog. By using the words, “salt & light” I am refering to the last paragraph, #24, of Inter Mirifica, written in December, 1963:
“. . . the media, like salt and light, add savor to the earth and light to the world. Further, it invites all men of good will, especially those who control the media, to use them solely for the good of humanity, for its fate becomes more and more dependent on their right use. The name of the Lord will thus be glorified by these modern inventions as it was in former times by the masterpieces of art; as the apostle said: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever – Hebrews 13:8.”
Let us always remember our purpose in life and stand fast at the foot of the cross in Imitation of Mary.
May Almighty God bless you and your apostolate, in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In Christ and for souls,
Fr. Steve Gallagher
Holy Name Catholic Church
Ketchikan Alaska
Thank you for your kind words and that wonderful blessing, Father! There are over 700 of us making the Total Consecration right now. Please keep us in your prayers and we will remember your group as well. Ad Jesum per Mariam!
In Christ,
Gary
Pingback: Total Consecration To Jesus Through Mary Changed My Life | Church Militant
A small group made our Consecration on June 27,2012- Feast Day of Our Lady
of Perpeptual Help–I highly recommend “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Fr
Michael Gaitley – this 33 day retreat is awesome for Consecration–
In the Arms of Mary
I have just finished my consecration today. It is AWSOME how God works, because on the birthday of Our Blessed Mother I have given myself totaly to Jesus Christ throuh Our Mother Mary. I am so blessed . I have fallen head over heels in love with the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Jesus Christ is Alive and thank you my Blessed Lord for giving to us your creation, your mother , to love and to honor. I love you mommy . Happy birthday